Joshua Kimmich has played a crucial role in the positive start to the season for Bayern Munich. The German international has been used in midfield under Vincent Kompany this season. Kimmich helps the team in dictating the tempo of the game by becoming the volume passer in the midfield.
At one point in the summer, it was difficult to imagine Kimmich playing at Bayern this season. The 29-year-old midfielder was heavily linked with a move away from Bavaria. Paris Saint-Germain enquired about the conditions of a possible transfer. Bayern were also reportedly open to selling Kimmich in the summer.
Despite intense speculation, Kimmich ended up staying in Munich. Vincent Kompany considers him a key player in the squad, and the club chiefs have also heavily insisted that Kimmich remains a part of their plans. The German midfielder also opened the door for a contract extension.
In the latest episode of the Bayern insider podcast, Bild journalists Christian Falk and Tobi Altschäffl revealed that Kimmich has held positive talks with Bayern regarding a contract extension. If things go well, Bayern could reach an agreement with Kimmich by the end of the year.
Bayern consider Kimmich to lead the team in the future
The Bild journalists also insisted that Bayern are confident about Kimmich leading the team in the future. The German midfielder has already led the team against Werder Bremen this season when Manuel Neuer was nursing a minor injury.
It does look like Kimmich and Bayern have sorted their differences and plan to work together in the long run. The 29-year-old midfielder had previously bemoaned about the lack of support from Bayern during his poor run of form. The Bavarian faithful will be pleased with the latest development since Kimmich is a crucial player and leader in the current squad. He has been named the new captain of the German national team after İlkay Gündoğan announced retirement from international football this season. He will replace Neuer for the same role at the club level sooner rather than later.
The new deal is likely to be the last big one for Kimmich at the top level in Europe, which may lead to a lengthy negotiation with Bayern. The Bavarian club wants to maintain balance in the wage bill while extending the contracts of key players. Die Roten will have to find a solution that will benefit all parties.
For the time being, it looks certain that Kimmich will stay at Bayern beyond this season. Kompany and the Bavarian faithful will hope that his early season form is maintained throughout the campaign, as it will significantly improve Die Roten’s chances of winning the silverware.